Archive for October, 2009.
Chris Haft of the MLB.com answers Giants fans questions. Haft does say that the Giants must acquire at least one accomplished hitter, besides re-signing Freddy Sanchez and possibly Bengie Molina to have a chance at seriously contending again next year.
He also believes the Giants must add a hitter or two, but not while sacrificing the asset which separates them from the almost every other team, which is their pitching.
When asked about potential fifth starter for 2010. Haft said if the Giants re-sign Brad Penny, Jonathan Sanchez would be the fifth starter. If Penny isn’t re-signed, or Sanchez or another starter is traded, Madison Bumgarner could fill the role, though some within the organization believe that he needs more Minor League seasoning. Joe Martinez will be a candidate, and Kevin Pucetas or Ryan Sadowski could get a look if they’re invited to Spring Training.
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Bengie Molina, Brad Penny, Freddy Sanchez, Giants, Hot Stove, Joe Martinez, Jonathan Sanchez, Kevin Pucetas, MLB Hot Stove, Ryan Sadowski, SF Giants Baseball. San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Trades
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Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says with spring training just around the corner, it’s time to start fixing the Giants. Firing Carney Lansford last week was a great move. With this team and it’s guiding offensive philosophy, there is no point in having a hitting coach. All a hitting coach can do is clutter up the hitters’ minds with unnecessary thoughts, like, well, thoughts.
Ostler also says the Giants will need a catcher. Sabean says Buster Posey is likely ticketed to another season in the minors.
Joe Mauer was drafted out of high school, spent two years in the minors, and became a full-time starter for the Twins at age 21 (almost 22).
Posey played three years of college ball and spent last season in the minors. He will be 23 when the 2010 season begins.
The Giants’ M.O. has been to bring kids along slowly while their big-league spots are kept warm by overpaid players. Tim Lincecum and Pablo Sandoval showed, sometimes you’re ready when you’re ready.
Technorati Tags: Brian Sabean, Buster Posey, Carney Lansford, Free Agents, Giants, Hot Stove, Joe Mauer, MLB Rumors, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
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Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says Carney Lansford got the news Wednesday in Oregon just two hours before his father-in-law was buried. Lansford did not ask manager Bruce Bochy who might replace him.
“Frankly, I don’t care,” Lansford said Thursday. “I wish whoever it is the best. I hope they get some players for him.”
Fan Favorite Will Clark does not appear to be a candidate. Clark said Thursday he has not been contacted about the job.
“Bill Neukom was very kind to offer me the special assistant job,” Clark said of the Giants’ managing general partner. “I am very comfortable in that role right now.”
Technorati Tags: Bill Neukom, Bruce Bochy, Carney Lansford, Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Trade Rumors, Will Clark
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Andrew Baggarly reported yesterday that Giants manager Bruce Bochy called Carney Lansford and informed him that he would not be invited back to serve for a third season as the team’s hitting coach. The rest of the staff has not been settled, but other changes are not anticipated.
Chris Haft of MLB.com says Bochy said the Giants are examining candidates from within the organization and outside to replace Lansford, 52, who joined the Giants before the 2008 season. Triple-A Fresno hitting coach Hensley Meulens and senior advisor of player personnel Rick Down would appear to be obvious candidates.
Technorati Tags: Bruce Bochy, Carney Lansford, Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
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Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean have signed new deals. It’s reported as 2 year contracts with an option for 2012.
Technorati Tags: Brian Sabean, Bruce Bochy, Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
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Chris Haft of MLB.com answers Giants fans questions. Haft said Matt Holliday and Jason Bay almost surely will be unaffordable. The Giants will have to pursue less recognizable yet still productive and more affordable types such as Texas free agent Marlon Byrd (.283, 20 homers, 89 RBIs, .808 OPS in ’09). I’ve (Chris Haft) heard nothing linking the Giants to Byrd. That’s just a suggestion.
Technorati Tags: Hot Stove, Jasn Bay, Marlon Byrd, Matt Holliday, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
Nick Cafardo of Boston.com says could he (Jason Bay) wind up in the City by the Bay? Giants GM Brian Sabean is looking for a big bat and will spend for someone like Bay or Matt Holliday. The Sox will have to extend themselves to sign Bay, who is going to draw a handsome amount in the free agent market. He would love to stay with the Sox, but he does live in Seattle, and the West Coast may be calling his name.
Technorati Tags: AT&T Park, Brian Sabean, Free Agents, Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Player Profiles, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
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The Associated Press says Barry Bonds handed out T-shirts, posed for pictures and romped with young patients Friday as the UCSF Medical Center opened a playroom bearing his name.
The home run king said he hoped the Barry Bonds Family Foundation Playroom would provide children a place to relax while staying at the hospital.
Bonds paid about $250,000 for the renovation, according to Roxanne Fernandes, executive director of UCSF Children’s Hospital.
“He really has been a hero for us,” Fernandes said. “He kept saying, ‘I want to do more that will touch all these kids.’ We would tell him about various programs we had, and he walked by this room and said, ‘I want to make that playroom an amazing place for kids.’”
Technorati Tags: Barry Bonds, Bonds, Giants, Player Profiles, SF Giants, SF Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
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Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports former Giants/Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams is among those being considered for the vacancies on the coaching staff, team sources said.
“I’m not comfortable discussing candidates this early in the process, but I will at a later time,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
Technorati Tags: AJ Hinch, King of Cali, Matt Williams, Player Profiles, SF Giants, SF Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
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Paul Hoynes from Plain Dealer Reporter says Robby Thompson, former Gold Glove second baseman with the Giants, is another interesting internal option to take over as the Cleveland Indians manager position. Thompson, a special assistant in the baseball operations department, is highly thought of in the organization, but family obligations probably will keep him out of serious consideration for the manager’s job or a spot on the staff.
Technorati Tags: Cleveland Indians, Giants, MLB Rumors, Robby Thompson, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
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